sochi

So, the Winter Olympics are over, but what did we really learn now that all the hoopla and hullabaloo have finally died down? Thankfully, only seven things. Exactly seven. No more, no less. Which is good because it fits really well into our current format. Presenting JSF’s Top 7: Things We Learned From the Winter Olympics.

1. Sochi: It’s Not That Cold

Apparently, being a subtropical beach holiday destination does not preclude you from hosting the Winter Olympics. Get your sales pitch ready, Myrtle Beach, you could be next.

Temperatures in the 50’s? I expected the cold, bleak Russian winter to be a little colder and a little bleaker than this. That Billy Joel’s full of shit, man.

Too bad his good friend Tony La Russa didn’t warn him. The former White SoxA’sCardinals Major League Baseball manager knows the dangers of the Sochi room service hot towel treatment all too well.

4. T.J. Oshie…More Like…T.J. Sochi! Am I Right?? Who’s With Me?

Although I’m not nearly clever enough to come up with that nickname, this guy is. Nevertheless, I do love repeating it ad naseam. Never mind that the U.S. men’s hockey team came up short in its quest for a medal. They beat the Russians in an all-time classic, making Oshie St. Louis’ greatest thing since sliced provel pizza pitchman David Freese.

A St. Louis professional athlete hasn’t received this kind of mass attention since Freese crushed a pitch from Mark Lowe into tomorrow night. Sure, Oshie can handle all the interviews and media requests, he can even ride an eagle. But the real question is, can he sing the “Square Beyond Compare” jingle?

5. Payback Is A Bitch

After listening to the Russians whine about the disallowed goal that helped the Americans get to the shootout that catapulted Oshie to global stardom, I could only think of one thing: “Waaaah, too freaking bad. Why don’t you go invade the Ukraine or something?”

Remember how the U.S. men’s basketball team was screwed in 1972, giving the Russians the gold? Me neither! But I’m pretty sure I watched a 30 for 30 or Outside the Lines or whatever on it, which means that damn Chris Connelly probably made me cry.

6. The Russian National Anthem And the Anthem Played During the Closing Credits of “Red Heat” are the Same Song

Begging the question, with so much on the line in terms of national pride, reports of terror threats, and last minute hotel renovations, how did the Soviets – I mean Russians – deal with all the tension and stress of hosting the Winter Olympics?

7. Besides Hockey, Other Dumb Sports Were Played That You Know Damn Good and Well You Would Never Otherwise Watch In a Million, Billion Years

These include various forms of Group Sledding, Ice Shuffleboard, Skiing, and my personal favorite, Skiing While Shooting Things. Also, MTV’s X Games has a signficant presence, which is good for NBC and that highly sought after 15-24 demographic. Cha-ching.